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Snapshot of the Week Past |
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Cabinet
Approves Education Ties With South Africa
"The Council of Ministers yesterday decided
to sign an agreement with South African Ministry
of Education for the exchange of scientific,
technological and administrative expertise,
teaching staff and researchers. The Cabinet
meeting, chaired by Crown Prince Abdullah,
authorized Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled
Al-Anqari to sign a memorandum of understanding
with the South African ministry for scientific and
educational cooperation.."
'Talks
With Qaboos to Strengthen Ties'
"Crown Prince Abdullah yesterday told the
Cabinet that his talks with Sultan Qaboos of Oman
had focused on ways of promoting bilateral
cooperation in all areas as well as matters
related to strengthening the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC).. ..Sultan Qaboos, who arrived on
Sunday on a three-day official visit, met Prince
Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of
defense and aviation, Interior Minister Prince
Naif, and Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal.
They discussed issues of mutual concern.."
Labor
Ministry Forms Panel to Streamline Foreign
Recruitment
"A high-level committee has been set up at
the Labor Ministry to approve applications for the
recruitment of foreign manpower and investigate
complaints by companies whose recruitment
applications have been rejected.. ..The panel is
significant as it will streamline recruitment of
experienced and skilled foreign manpower which is
required by companies. Some foreign investors have
complained that they have been unable to start
their projects because of a lack of qualified
personnel to operate them.."
Egypt
Relaxes Tourist Visa Requirements for Saudis
"Egypt has announced relaxed tourist visa
requirements for Saudi nationals. The new
conditions are part of its efforts to woo more
tourists from the region after a sharp drop in
tourist traffic was reported between the Kingdom
and Western destinations since the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks in the United States. The move
on the part of Cairo comes after other countries
including Turkey recently relaxed visa procedures
to attract more tourists and businessmen from the
Kingdom.."
YAL
Joins Hands With DaimlerChrysler
"Young Arab Leaders (YAL) has announced its
new strategic partnership with DaimlerChrysler,
one of the leading multinational companies in the
world. The alliance will allow both organizations
to launch initiatives that support the youth in
the region.. ..'The countries of the Middle East
represent a key region for future growth - one
that displays tremendous potentials,' said
DaimlerChrysler Chairman of the Board of
Management Prof. Jürgen E. Schrempp.
'DaimlerChrysler wants to contribute its expertise
as a global corporation, and to expand the already
existing extensive partnerships in the
region'.."
Kingdom
and Oman Call for Israeli Pullout
"Saudi Arabia and Oman yesterday urged Israel
to implement all international resolutions,
support peace initiatives and withdraw from Arab
territories in order to achieve a peaceful Middle
East settlement. In a joint statement at the end
of the three-day official visit of Sultan Qaboos
of Oman, the two countries also urged the Israeli
government to stop its aggressive practices
against the Palestinian people and halt the
expansion of Jewish settlements.."
Three
New Universities
"Crown Prince Abdullah has approved the
establishment of three new universities in Jizan,
Hail and Al-Jouf, Higher Education Minister Khaled
Al-Anqari announced.. ..At present there are 11
universities in the Kingdom including the newly
formed three universities in Qassim, Taif and
Madinah.."
Kingdom
Wins Seat on ILO Board
"Saudi Arabia has been elected to the board
of directors of the International Labor
Organization (ILO). In elections held here on
Monday night, the Kingdom got 230 votes. The ILO
board has 56 members, 10 of them permanent and the
rest elected every three years.."
Madani
Calls on Arab Media to Promote Culture of Dialogue
"Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani
yesterday called upon the Arab media to shoulder
its responsibility in promoting tolerance,
moderation and a culture of dialogue where
viewpoints of others will be respected.
"Saudi Arabia, which is the cradle of Islam
and Salam (peace), has stood firmly against all
types of extremism and terrorism".. ..Madani
said such a media strategy was required to
confront deviant thoughts and change the
stereotypes about Arabs and their culture.."
Al-Jaber
Nets Two as Saudi Arabia Books Ticket for World
Cup 2006
"Saudi Arabia punched a ticket to the World
Cup 2006 in Germany with a comprehensive 3-0
victory over Uzbekistan yesterday before an
overflowing crowd of 75,000 at the King Fahd
International Stadium in Riyadh. The win gave the
Kingdom 11 points from five games in Group A of
the Asian qualifying and a fourth trip to the
World Cup.."
Saudi-Japanese
Ties Unshakable: Koizumi
"The 50-year-relationship between Saudi
Arabia and Japan is solid, says Japanese Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi.. ..Koizumi underscored
the strong economic relations between the two
countries. "Japan cooperates with Saudi
Arabia by investing in its giant petrochemical
projects," he pointed out. "We look far
ahead into the future where our excellent
relations are even more essential to international
society".."
CIT
Official Tells US Not to Misread Saudi Situation
"A senior official at the Council of Saudi
Chambers of Commerce and Industry has said it is
in the interest of the US not to misread the
situation in the Kingdom in the context of
insurgent violence in Iraq. Omar Bahlaiwa,
secretary-general of the Committee of
International Trade (CIT), told Arab News that
Chevron's decision to invest $3.5 billion in the
Kingdom's petrochemical sector reflects the
confidence of major US firms in the country's
political and economic stability and is the direct
result of a recent Saudi delegation's visit to the
US.."
BP
Signs $4 Billion Deal With Delta Group
"BP PLC's petrochemicals and refining
subsidiary, Innovene, signed in Riyadh on Tuesday
a Memorandum of Understanding with Delta
International Group, a Saudi-owned independent
development group, for a major investment in Saudi
Arabia's petrochemical sector. The agreement's
long-term goal is for the joint venture to
construct two world-scale crackers in the Kingdom
on a phased basis. Each cracker is expected to
cost in excess of $2 billion.."
No
N-Facilities or Reactors in Saudi Arabia
"Saudi Arabia yesterday reaffirmed that it
does not possess any nuclear facilities or
reactors and said it is committed to international
charters related to nuclear energy. In a
statement, a Foreign Ministry official also said
the Kingdom was ready to cooperate with the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 'We
have joined all international agreements and
charters that limit the spread of weapons of mass
destruction out of our support to international
efforts to prevent their dangers and peaceful
coexistence of nations'.."
Saudis
Seek Relaxed Nuclear Oversight
"Saudi Arabia is seeking to permanently lower
international scrutiny of its lone nuclear
reactor, but a top Saudi official said Wednesday
the request is not a prelude to development of
nuclear weapons. "We have no desire to
acquire any type of weapon of mass destruction,
period," Saudi foreign policy adviser Adel
al-Jubeir said.. ..The IAEA is expected to
reluctantly grant the Saudi request next week,
despite suspicion on the part of some diplomats at
the IAEA that the Saudis have not been forthcoming
about their nuclear program or ambitions.."
Saudi
Stock Index Breaks 13,000-Point Barrier
"The Arab world's largest stock markets hit
all-time record highs last week and seemed poised
for fresh gains in the coming weeks, as they drew
momentum from "better-than-expected"
semi-annual results and surging oil prices,
Analysts said yesterday. Saudi stocks displayed
strong performance last week, with the Tadawul All
Share Index (TASI), climbing 4 percent and closing
at 12,989.26 points, showing a slight fall of 7.78
points or 0.06 percent on Thursday, after crashing
the 13,000-point psychological barrier when it hit
a record high of 13,057 points on
Wednesday.."
Polio
Vaccination Campaign Begins Kingdomwide
"A nationwide campaign to vaccinate children
against polio began yesterday in the Kingdom. The
first stage of the campaign targets 400,000
children under five and will last for three days..
..The campaign was launched two months ahead of
its original date following the discovery of a
number of polio cases in some neighboring
countries.."
Al-Naimi
Backs 500,000 bpd OPEC Ceiling Hike
"Saudi Arabia's oil minister said yesterday
he supported a 500,000 barrel per day rise in
OPEC's output ceiling and that current prices
above $50 a barrel were "too high" and
should be brought down. "Raising the ceiling
seems reasonable," Minister of Petroleum and
Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi said. "I
support the process.."
Kingdom
to Float Petrochemical Shares
"Saudi Arabia announced yesterday that it
would float shares worth SR22.5 billion in
petrochemical and mining companies as part of its
efforts to increase the participation of citizens
in such firms. Petroleum and Mineral Resources
Minister Ali Al-Naimi said his ministry had
already reached an agreement with companies
implementing petrochemical projects to float part
of their shares for public subscription.."
Saudi
Arabia: Contracts Worth $32.5 Million Signed For
Fanar City
"The Saudi Real Estate Company Rikaz has
signed contracts worth SR122 million ($32.5
million), which represent the final stage of
contracts to develop al-Fanar City, located on the
coastline between the cities of al-Damam and al-Khubar,
reported the Saudi newspaper, Al-Watan on April
10, 2005.. ..The Fanar City, Saudi Arabia's first
residential project specifically aimed at non-GCC
property owners, will comprise residential,
commercial, and leisure facilities.."
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On
Doing Business: A Conversation with Omar Bahlaiwa - Trade Mission
2005
A
Fresh Start in Saudi-US Relationship
